Wire-stretcher



A. A. ANDREWS.

WIRE STRETCHER.

APPLICATION men OCT. 30. 1919.

Patented Nov. '2, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET ,A. A. ANDREWS.

WIRE STRETCHER.

APPLICATION FILED ocnso. 1919.

Patented Nov. 2, 1920.

3 $HEETSSHEET 2.

J om ./7.fl7 reurs 3141x211 or A. A, ANDREWS.

WIRE STRETCHER.

APPLICATION FILED ocnso. 1919.

AARON ASHBROOK ANDREWS, 6F HARRIS, KANSAS.

WIRE-ETRETCHER-.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 2, 1920.

Application filed October 30, 1919. Serial No. 334,548.

To all whomit may concern:

lie it known that I, Aanon Asnsnoon Anonnws, a citizen of the United States residing at Harris, in the county of Anderson and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and. useful Improvements in VVirehitretchers, of which the following is a specification. V

This invention relates to novel and useful 0 improvements in wire stretchers and more particularly to a device designed to be used by telegraph or telephone linemen or any place where smooth wire is to be stretched.

'lhe object of the invention isto provide 5 an improved wire stretcher for taking a wire and stretching both sides of the same vith respect to the stretcher, that is. taking up slack on both sides or both einils of the wire, or pernintiiing the slack to be taken up 0 on one side onl n so that the position of the stretcher relative to the operator may be maintained fixed or constant, the device being capable of quick application and arranged to properly guide the wire taken :5 up by the stretchen as well as to render the stretching operation continuous A. further object of the invention is to provide a novel arrangement of wire stretche' including a frame, a lever, a plurality of wire {grips and. pull rods connecting said grips the lever. said grips being of novel construction and the pull rods also being; c ipable of adjustment so as to discern roe-ct thegrips from the lever to render the grip and stretching devices inoperative, said grips being: also provided with a nove form of guide means so as to maintain the wire in aliiienient with the gripping jaws of the grips Ll; all times. 7 41 further olriect of the invention is to pr vide a construction of grips which will prevent ii'riury to the wire, the grips at opposite ends of the stretcher frame being de signed for alternate operation, the improved construction consisting: in providing opposed. pairs of grips, one of which at each end is ope 'ativc to grip the wire while the other is in inoperative position .tl'ierehy insuring; that the wire will be held taut and in stretched condition whilethe movable grip is moved to a position to grasp the vire for st etching the same.

'vr'ith the above objects and others in ments and arrangement of parts which will be more fully described in the following specification and then finally embodied in the clauses of the claims which are appended hereto and which form an essential part of the same.

Reference is had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, wherein like characters of reference will refer to corresponding parts through out the several views, in which- Figure l is a plan view of my improved wire stretcher showing the grips at one end in operative position and the grips at the other end in ii'ioperative position,

' 2 is a bottom planview thereof,

3 is an enlarged elevation of one end, i 4i an enlarged sectionel view of one of ie pull rods of the device showing; the merrier of rendering the grips inoperative pull rods iruscrated in section in lf' :l,

and

F1 T is a detail peiipective view of, one

s of the wire guides.

Referring to the drawings in detail, my improved wire stretchei is shown as comprisinga handle or lever 10 and a frame 11 inchidi11;;- an inte mediate arcuate portion 12 having branches 13 leading to the oppositely extending portions i l disposed in alinement and being rectilinear shown. The is er is pivoted to the yokportion lIliJQTlXlG-Lllfltfilj as shown at 15, the free end. of the lever extending across an oppositely a'cuate connecting port-ion or erase 1'6 secured at its extremities to the end portions Ll where they join with the braces 13-, as shown at 17 thus providing a rigid frame, while the lever during its OSCll" letory movement is iilcsigned to move along the connectingpart or brace 16 upon the pivot 15 as a center. Projectingfrom 1 e e n extremity of the portion 12 is an engaging bracket aeapt-ed to straddle pole or post to which the device is applied as indicated at 3.9, when the wire is be stretched lrl ounted upon the angular portion at the jnnctnre of the part -Q with the parts 1.8 are spring clamps 21) in the form of spring lingers riveted to said portion as indicated at 21 and ext nding freely inwardly across said portions 1 so as to grip the wire h re under, simply by raising the springs or spring clamps and snapping the same upon the wire so as to keep the loose end of the wire in alinement with the grip, as will be hereinafter more particularly pointed out.

Attached to the lever 10 between the portions 12 and 16 of the frame, so as to be reciprocated as the lever is oscillated, are a pair of pull rods generally indicated by the numeral 22, each comprising sections 23 and 24, provided with coacting slots 25 and designed to be held at any desired adjusted position to determine the length thereof as pullrods or links, through the medium of a pair of clamping screws as indicated at 26. The inner end of the section 23 is offset upwardly as indicated at 2'7 and apertured for connection with the lever shown at 28.

The pivots 28 are adjacent and independent, the pull rods being disposed with their inner ends in substantially abutting position and in alineinent so as to extend outj wardly in opposite directions for connection with the movable clamp of the stretcher, as distinguished from the stationary clamp thereof as will be hereinafter pointed out. The section 24 of each pull rod is extended beyond the outer extremity 29 ofthe section 23 and is offset upwardly and apertured, as

shown at 30. Disposed in contact with the end portion 29 and overlying the portion 30 in spaced relation to the section 24, is a supplemental strip or section 31 riveted as shown at 32 to the section 24, being offset for this purpose adjacent the extremity 29 and provided with an offset jaw 33 also apertured with the aperture thereof alining with the aperture of the offset portion of jaw 30. The inner extremity of the section 3lis bent upon itself to provide a U-shaped or overhanging portion 34 designed to receive a pin 35 forming a part of a catch in connection with a spring 36 disposed between the overhanging part 34 and an enlargement 37 on the pin, so as to force the projecting end of the pin into openings 38 in the sections 23 and 24, when disposed in alinement. The pin 35 is headed to facilitate its disengagement, and when released, will immediately engage the apertures 38 of the sections 23 and 24, when the latter are alined, scra s to prevent movement of one section with respect to the other whether the clamping means 26 is tightened or not,although it is obvious that when the pin is displaced and the clamping means 26 is loose, the section 23 may slide independently of the section 24, for a purpose which will be hereinafter made clear. I should also be noted that the pins 35 are'slidable' in two thicknesses of the section 31, therefore forming a two point bearing serving to support, and accurately guide the pin into operative posi-' tion, as well as to protect the same from injury.

'33 of the draw bars.

The rivets 17 connecting the connecting portion or brace 16 to the end flanges or portions 13 where they join with the portions 14, also serve forrthe connection of wire clamps generally indicated at 39, as distinguished from the other clamps 40 which are connected between the portions 30 and The clamps 39 are stationary upon the frame and each coinprises a plate 41 riveted in addition to the rivets 17, at 42 to the frame or portion 14 thereof and provided with a rearward extension, to which parallel arms 43 and 44 are pivoted as shown at 45- so as to extend beyond the plates and frame portion and held normally at an angle, by means of a spring 46 engaging the strip 44, or the outer strip, while the end of the spring is anchored to a pin 47 and passed around a pin 48 in order to secure the'required tension upon the free end of the spring for maintaining the arms normally at an angle, and in parallel relation at all times. Pivotally secured to the arms 43 and 44, are spaced clamping jaws or jaw blades 49 and 50 as shown at 51, as by means of screws or the like, said jaw blades being disposed parallel to each other and at right angles to the arms 43 and 44, when the latter are disposed at right angles to the frame portions 14, the inner jaw blade being disposed normally in advance of the outer aw blade toward the free end of the frame, when the parts are in normal position so as to allow for the relative movements between the same when the arms are shifted in the stretching operation.

Each arm 43 is provided in alinement with the jaw 49 thereof, with alateral ei-ztension 52 having a right angular bifurcated extension 53 at the end thereof producing a wireguide, so'as to hold the wire in a-linement with the gripping jaws at all times and prevent its lateral displacement therefrom. The free end of the blade forming the arm 44 is provided with a similar lateral extension 54 having a right angular bifurcated end portion 55 producing a wire guide at the outer side as distinguished from the wire guide at the inner side of each grip, as just described. The arms 43 and 44 of the relatively stationary wire clamps operate between the frame sections 13 and the pull roes 22,. being pivotally supported upon thepivot 45 carried by the respective plates 41 and substantially between the rivets 17 and 42.

the outer grips are moving from the gripping position.- The outer grips 40 are sli dably mounted upon the frame members or portions l l formed by the oppositely extending portions of the frame lland are supported upon plates 56 having sleeves 5'? at the ends thereof, disposed at right angles to receive the frame portions 14: therethrough, whereby said plates are slidable upon the frame. Each plate is provided with an apertured extension 58 at its inner end, for connection with the pull rods 22 as shown at 59, by a rivet or the like passing through the apertured portions 30 and 33 of said pull rods.

The relatively movable pull rod actuated clamps mounted upon the plates 56, are the same as described in connection with the clamps 39. As the lever 10 is moved upon its pivot 15, the drawbars will be reciprocated and also the outer clamps carried at the extremities of said drawbars, the sets of clamps at the opposite sides of the lever, acting alternately to grip and draw the slack wire. When the outward clamp is moving outwardly, with its jaws sliding'upon the wire, the inner stationary clamp is holding the wire by reason of the gripping action of the jaws assisted by the spring 4.6. How ever, when the outer clamp moves inwardly, its jaws grip the wire and draw the latter along. By employing two sets of clamps at opposite sides of the lever, the action takes place upon the wire at opposite sides of the levers, thereby producing a double acting wire stretcher serving to take up the slack at both extremities or both sides of the central portion of a wire, where it is to be cut out and spliced in order to draw it taut. However, by removing the pin 35 at one side, the slack can be taken up at one side only, while the jaws at the opposite sides remain in fixed position, the outer jaw being inoperative and the inner jaw serving to hold the wire during the stretching operation at the opposite side of the lever. During this movement, the sections 23 and 2% will be permitted to slide on each other, the clamping means 26 hav ing been loosened. The adjustment of the length of the drawbars, can be readily effected by moving them longitudinally and subsequently tightening the screws 26. In this way, the length of the take up can be regulated, or the'stroke of the outer jaws in reciprocating upon this frame or portions l t thereof, varied in accordance with the requirements of the particular work in hand.

Mounted upon each end of the frame is a small spring indicated at 60 to prevent the sliding clamp or grip movingtoo far out upon the frame when the clamps or grips are released from the pull rods and lever as heretofore explained. If necessary, in getting by splices, in the wire, thesprings 60 can be depressed allowing thegrips to be pulled farther out and each end of the ."rame is provided with an aperture 61 for connection with an anchoring wire, where it is desired to stretch from the opposite end only, instead of anchoring to a post as heretofore explained. It will also be understood that the guides are automatic in their action and hold the wire in alinement at all times with the wire grips, while the wire can be readily and quickly inserted without injuring the same. The double pull feature is important, as it allows the operator to take up slack from both ends of the stretcher. thus maintaining the stretcher at a fixed point,as for instance where the operator is located at a pole, straightening telephone or telegra 'ih wires, or the like, the stretcher will be held at the pole or wherever the operator wish s to be, and should the operator be at the top of a pole and there was more slack at one side than at the other, and the stretcher began to creep away toward one side, the plug or pin would be displaced at that side, thus rendering the stretcher inoperative at one side and allowing the slack to be taken up from one side only until the stretcher resumes the properlposition. The operation will be smooth and continuous, and slack of any amount may be taken up without making a new hitch, thus permitting the ends to be effectively spliced when held by the stretcher, and insuring that the wire will be taut when the operation is completed. T he operation may be carried out in an effective manner by omitting one of the slidable clamps, when the action would be the same as if said clamp was rendered inoperative by removing one of the pins 35, as heretofore pointed out. This of course would produce a single acting stretcher instead of a double acting stretcher, but the inner clamps would serve to hold the wire, one permanently and the other intermittently when the sliding clamp is moving to a gripping position for stretching the wire. to take up the slack therein.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is thought that a clear and comprehensive understanding of the construction, operation and advantages of my invention may be had, and while I have shown and described the device as emboc ying a specific struc ture, I desire that it be understood that such changes may be made in said structure as do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, andv desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a wire stretcher the combination with an elongated frame and a lever pivoted thereto, fixed clamps on opposite sides of the lever and carried by the frame, and 0p positely arranged movable clamps on the frame outwardly of the first mentioned clam s and connected to the lever to be reciprocated upon oscillation of the lever to alternately draw and release a wire.

2. In a wire stretcher the combination with an elongated frame and a lever pivoted to the same intermediately, fixed clamps on opposite sides of the lever and carried by the frame, movable clamps on the frame outwardly of the first mentioned clamps and connected to the lever to be reciprocated upon oscillation of the lever, said clamp comprising spaced arms normally held obliquely positioned, clamping jaws carried thereby in parallel relation, and guide means carried by each arm to hold the wire in alinement with the spaces between the jaws.

3. In a wire stretcher the combination with an elongated frame and a lever pivoted to the same intermediately, fixed clamps on opposite sides of the lever and carried by the frame, movable clamps on the frame outwardly of the first mentioned clamps, and means detachably connecting the lever with the movable clamps whereby either or both movable clamps may be rendered i11- operative.

a. A wire stretcher comprising a frame, a lever pivoted thereto, fixed clamping members mounted upon the frame on bothsides of the lever and having gripping jaws, guide means for said jaws to retain the wire therein, and clamps slidably mounted on the frame outwardly of the first mentioned clamps and connected to the lever to be reciprocated upon oscillationof the lever, said clamps having gripping jaws and guides as. described in connection with the aforesaid clamps,

5. A wire stretcher comprising a frame, a lever pivoted thereto, fixed clamping members mounted upon the frame on both sides of the lever and having gripping jaws, guide means for said jaws to retain the wire therein, anchoring means for the extremities of the wire in which the slack is being taken up, clamps having plates slidable upon the frame outwardly of the first mentioned clamps, said second named clamps having arms normally held in clamping position and clamping blades carried thereby, and detachable connections between said second named clamps and said lever above the pivot thereof.

6. A wire stretcher comprising a frame, a lever pivoted thereto, fixed clamping members mounted upon the frame on both sides of the lever and having gripping jaws, guide means for said jaws to retain the wire therein, anchoring means for the extremities of the wire in which the slaclr is being taken up, clamps having plates slidable upon the frame members outwardly of the first mentioned clamps, said second named clamps having arms normally held 111 clampmg position and clamping blades carried thereby, and pull rods connecting said second named clamps with said lever, said pull rods being adjustable. V

7. A wire stretcher comprising a frame, a lever pivoted thereto, fixed clamping members mounted upon the frame on both sides of the lever and having gripping jaws, guide means for said jaws to retain the wire therein, anchoring means for the extremities of the Wire in which the slack is being taken up, clamps having plates slidable upon the frame members outwardly of the first mentioned clamps, said second named clamps having arms normally held in clamping position and clamping blades carried thereby, movable clampsmounted upon the frame outwardly of the first mentioned clam iis and pull rocs connecting the second named clamps with the lever, said pul rods including means to render the outer clamps inoperative by preventing shifting thereof upon movement of the lever.

8. A wire stretcher comprising a frame, a lever pivoted thereto, fixed clamping members mounted upon the frame on both sides of the lever and having gripping aws, guide means for said jaws to retain the wire therein, anchoring means for the extremities of the wire in which the slack is being taken up, clamps having plates slidable upon the frame members outwardly of the first mentioned clamps, said second named clamps having arms normally held in clamping position and clamping blades carried thereby, movable clamps mounted upon the frame outwardly f the first mentioned clamps and pull rods connecting said second named clamps with said lever, said pull rods comprising two sections adjustably connected and means for disconnecting said sections to render said clamps immovable or inoperative.

9. In a wire stretcher, a frame, and a clamping member adapted to be shifted for taking up slack wire, said clamping member comprising a. plate, spaced arms pivoted to the plate, spring means normally holding said arms in one position, said arms having guide members formed thereon projecting at opposite sides, and clamping blades fixed in parallel relation pivotally to said arms.

10. double acting wire stretcher comprising a frame, pole engaging means carried thereby, wire clamps carried upon said frame, a lever pivoted at one end to the intermediate portion of said frame, fixed clamping means carried upon the frame at one side, a fixed clamp carried upon the frame at the other side, a movable clamp also carried upon the frame at the last mentioned side, connecting means between the last named clamp and the lever, and means for rendering said connection inoperative.

11. A double acting wire stretcher comprising a frame, pole engaging means carried thereby, wire clamps carried upon said frame, a. lever pivoted at one end to said frame, fixed clamping means carried upon the frame at one side, a fixed clamp carried upon the frame at the other side, a movable clamp also carried upon the frame at the last mentioned side, connecting means between the last named clamp and the lever, means to limit the movement of said last mentioned clamp, gripping means carried by said clamp and guide means carried by all of said clamps.

12. ii double acting wire stretcher comprising a frame, pole engaging means carried thereby, wire clamps carried upon said frame a lever pivoted at one end to the frame, fixed clamping means carried upon the frame at one side, a fixed clamp carried upon the frame at the other side, a movable clamp also carried upon the frame at the last mentioned side, connecting means be tween the last named clamp and the lever, two of said clamps comprising a plate, spaced parallel arms pivoted thereto, a spring between said arms to hold the same normally obliquely in position, parallel gripping blades pivoted to the arms in spaced parallel relation one in advance of the other and adapted to be moved into clamping engagement by said spring, and extensions on said arms having bifurcated angular portions forming guides in alinement with the spaces between the clamping blades.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature hereto.

AARON ASHBROOK ANDREWS. 

